Rialto — Madea’s Big Happy Family fans are in for a heartfelt experience on Saturday morning during the 3rd Annual Shining Star Awards hosted by The Brightest Star, Inc., benefiting the mission of building dreams and the self esteem of children and teens in foster care. Award winning, actress Natalie Desselle Reid, who played Tammy in the Tyler Perry film, will be mistress of ceremony, honoring thirteen outstanding individuals for their dedication and commitment to children in foster care.
The Shining Star Awards recognizes deserving individuals who have gone above and beyond for neglected, abused, abandoned and at-risk youth. “Our 13 honorees are the kind of amazing shining stars that inspire and quietly light up the lives of children,” said Lea Michelle Cash, executive director of The Brightest Star (TBS). “We are happy to shine a light on these extraordinary, largely unsung individuals and bring awareness to children thriving in foster care during National Foster Care Awareness month.” This year’s honorees are: Brandon Miller, Former Foster Youth-California State University; Danny Mendoza, President & CEO -Together We Rise; Fonda McGensy, Director Operation Safe House; Jamilda Bell, Supervising Agency Social Worker-Avant-Garde Foster Family Agency; Jacqueline White, WIA Program Director-Provisional Accelerated Learning (PAL) Center; Jonel Lamonte, RN, County of San Bernardino Juvenile Court-Behavioral Health Services; Kathy Turnbull, Assistant Network Officer-San Bernardino County Children’s Network; Karen Bass, Congresswoman U.S. Representative for California’s, 33rd Congressional District; Luke Madrigal, Executive Director- Indian Child and Family Services; Parissh A. Knox, Attorney, Past-Board of Director President-Current Board of Director/California Youth Connection; Trinity Wallace-Ellis, Motivational Speaker, Advocate Foster Care Alumni of America, Southern California CA President- San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Consultant; Wandalyn Lane-Williams, Program Coordinator, Valley Star Children and Family Services, and Zena (Zell) Johnson, Intake Coordinator-McKinley Children’s Center.
The special event will be held on May 18, 2013 at the beautiful Fontana Hilton Garden Inn located at 105343 Sierra Avenue, in Fontana. The time is 9:00 AM-11:30 AM. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased on the donation page of  http://www.thebrighteststar.org.. Breakfast, gifts bags, and entertainment are provided. Celebrity guests are attending. For information regarding The Brightest Star, Inc., the Shining Star Awards and/or National Foster Care Awareness Month, please call TBS office at (909) 875-2968.